Posted: 4/9/2006 11:01:29 AM EDT
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Calvin, I'm considering aquiring one of these for duty use. A co-worker just got one of the Blackhawk Gladiator lights. I was very impressed with everything but the price. When I got two looking around the L4 seemed pretty good to, and much more reasonably priced. This light would be used for building clearing, car searches, as well as general use. Please advise with your thoughts on the suitability of the L4 for this role, and pricing. THanks! -Hershey Edited to add: What is the actual output on this light? Has it changed? The Surfire website says 100 lumens for 2.5 hours, and the 2005 Surefire catalog I have says 65 lumens for 2.5 hours. Well 1 hour with 1.5 hours at reduced output. |
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Sorry for the delay in replying. Anyway, onto the below: The L4 is a 5w LED and will seem significantly different than the Gladius which is running at 3w. I now the technical lingo means othing so here's the real world description: - The L4 having a smaller lens/reflector and the fact it's running at 5w equates to more flood and white light at close ranges but that means it has less focus and so the beam performance fades out quicker. With the L4, 25-35yds. is about the max' for quality effectiveness but for indoor applications the wide flood pattern is hard to beat. - The Night-Ops Gladius has a tighter more focused beam which yields excellent down range performance (upwards of 50-60yds) but will have less close range flood. For the task you've listed, the L4 should be suitable, it's just a matter of longer range needs. The Gladius has some neat bonuses but if you feel the cost is too much then the L4 will do well. As for the ratings, SF is ammending some of their performance ratings. I think mainly they've changed the specs by calculating more of the flood rather than the center hotspot. |
There's the KL3 & the KL5 LED heads that will fit your G2, the KL5 has better flood and has a little brighter/whiter beam but personally I'd choose the new 3w KL3 head. The 3w KL3 has a tighter beam at shorter ranges but offers excellent throw (comparable to the KL5). What I really like about the KL3 is the 3hr. peak primary runtime and the fact it's half the cost of the KL5. |
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Hey Calvin, I got your email on prices. But between the K3 and K5, L4 and L5 I think I'm a little confused. Which heads do each the L4 and L5 come with, and if I simply replace the head on my G2 with a K3 or K5 will I get the same performance (output and runtime)? What kind? You mentioned that Surefire was ammending some of their ratings, up or down. If you could give me a breakdown of realted performance for the options we've disscussed, that would really help. -Hershey |
Sorry for the delay, I missed the reply. The L4 has the KL4 5w LED head and is only compatable with the Executive series & the Scout light. The KL1 3w LED head also fits the same series. The L5 has the KL5 5w LED head and is compatable with all of the std. size bodies such as the G2, 6P, 9P, C2, C3, etc. The KL3 3w LED head also fits the same series. The KL3 3w LED head and KL5 5w LED head will fit your G2. I'll post the performance specs asap. |
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Here's the scoop, SF has routinely underated their performance specs to err on the side of caution. They have now upgraded their testing equipment and will be updating their specs accordingly. The L series ratings are up to date, the L4 (KL4 head) & L5 (KL5 head) are rated at 100 lumens, the rating probably changed most because they're measuring a larger pattern but that's based off my limited understanding. The E1L/E2L/KL1/KL3 and others haven't been updated yet but when they get around to it I feel certain the ratings will all go up. |
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Thanks for the numbers Calvin, you are a big help! But the current rating on the KL3 is 19-20 lumens right? If so I think these may work well for searches, but am not sure if I feel comfortable clearing a house with it. Carry two lights, a G2 and an L4? Oh I don't know... Decisions, decisions, decisions... -Hershey |
The specs above are from the original KL3 1w LED heads and not the new 3w variants. The new 3w KL3's have got to be in the mid 40 lumen range and that # would be higher if it had more flood up close rather than the more intense hotspot. You know I'm a no hassle kind of guy, if it doesn't meet your expectations you can return it for a full refund. |
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Hey Calvin, I was able to handle both an L4 and L2 at my local shop today. I really liked both, but was most impressed with the L2 and its dual output. I really liked it better than I thought I would, and am thinking it is exactly what I am looking for! Low output and longlife for searching houses and cars, and high output if I run into anyone in the house! It also seemed brighter than the L4, but that may have been the batteries or just my perception. CAn you give me additional info including price on this model? Thanks again for all the help! Oh yeah this stuff would be shipping to 29072. -Hershey |